Sunday, November 9, 2025

Dealing with Reality

My views are back to normal. They have been for 30+ days now. Instead of thousands of views, a post may get a hundred. Not only is it an interesting observation, I think it's important to report.

In related news, my personal world is upside down. Things are good with my relationship with myself and with my relationship with my boyfriend. I know I can get through anything on my own. Infertility and failed fertility treatments taught me that. With my partner by my side, I can get through anything with laughter, support, and understanding. I prefer the team approach to life.
As long as you have the right team member that is...

But back to my upside down world: I can't find a full-time job where I am that pays a living wage. I'm about to lose my affordable health insurance. I hope that's not controversial to say because it is an objective fact. I cannot afford the expected increase on my monthly premium. At all. But I also don't want to post anything that catches any bots' attention. I even deleted several posts from my blog to increase my chances of staying under the radar. I don't believe I'm overreacting.
I truly believe I am being proactive.

So what does one do when all of your jobs have been in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and food banks when you live in a country where the people in charge are dismantling the Department of Education, making healthcare unaffordable, and denying assistance for those who are food insecure. Some people think I'm crazy for worrying. I'm just being realistic.

If you are living involuntarily childless you know what it's like to have a plan that doesn't work out. You know what it's like to live a life that looks completely different from the one you envisioned and planned for. Like I say, there is the life we wanted and then there is dealing with reality.

So I am dealing with reality.

Actually, I had an entirely different post in my head that I thought I was going to write. Let me digress and touch on those thoughts for a minute...

I am really starting to hate IVF. I cried with a friend the other morning. Her daughter's round of IVF did not result in pregnancy. She is heartbroken for her daughter. Secondarily, I think she is also heartbroken for herself. I pointed out that she is allowed to grieve too, that she always thought she would be a grandmother. I think my friend was so concerned for her daughter that she hadn't even thought about herself. Hopefully, she had the space and permission in the moment to feel her own feelings too. 

I like IVF when it works, but, as we know, it doesn't work much more often than it does. When it works, it can be great. When it doesn't, it can be devastating. I hate it.

And that brings me back to dealing with reality. 

I thought I was settled where I am. I thought I would never move again. Hahaha. Plans. Yeah...

Don't worry about me. I have a new plan! And I am very excited about it! I'm just in the middle of executing it and my little world is currently upside down. I will let you know when I've made it to the other side. 

There is always the other side. Unless we stay stuck. But staying stuck isn't dealing with reality. It's just staying stuck. I don't fault anyone for staying stuck for a little bit, but I always want to encourage people to take that first step when they have the energetic reserves to do so. If you need help with that first step, including even knowing what that first step is, send me an email. We can figure it out together. I will cheer you on. We are stronger together.

 

I found this image on the website of this organization. I don't know anything about them, but I love this image. Also, my email is my blog name infertilephoenix at gmail if you need it.


5 comments:

  1. I love that image too!
    I'm really sorry you are having to consider making changes again. I can't imagine living in a country that doesn't provide basic healthcare free to its citizens, but this year I have realised how precarious our situations are when necessary treatments might not be funded. So having affordable health insurance is absolutely a basic need, and I don't think that can be or should be remotely controversial.

    I am very glad you have a plan. And thrilled that you are excited about it! Yay. And sending hugs.
    PS. Thanks for the email. You're in my contacts list!

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    1. I got my official notification yesterday. My health insurance was $115/month in 2025. That same insurance will be $1080/month in 2026. And that is just for the insurance; that does not cover the costs of care. There are still co-pays for appointments, medication costs, and a deductible that has to be met. There is no way I can afford a thousand a month. However, I knew what was coming (although I was expecting a double or triple in cost, which I also can't afford--not a 10x increase!) and have been working on making changes for the last 3-4 months. It is so incredibly difficult and frustrating, but it's important to deal with reality. So I have a new plan and we will see what actually ends up happening!

      Thank you always for your support. <3

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    2. This is just crazy! I am sorry to read this staggering number.
      I echo Mali in saying that I am glad you have a plan and that you are executing it, too. Sending my best wishes in this busy time of your world being "upside down".
      Much love!

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  2. Like Mali, I cannot imagine life without basic universal healthcare. I see some posts on social media about what people there already pay, and what they likely will be paying soon, and it's just absolutely bonkers.

    By the way, Canada is recruiting lots of healthcare professionals from the U.S. right now.... just saying! ;)

    P.S. Glad your page views have gotten back to normal. I posted some stats at the end of October when I marked my 18th (!) blogoversary... I received as many page views last year as I have in the previous 17!! -- clearly, something weird is going on (or was).

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    1. My favorite quilt designer lives in Nova Scotia! So between you and him, Canada sounds awesome to me. :) Although... Even if healthcare professionals may be in demand, it might be harder for my boyfriend to move there, especially since we're not married.

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